The changing of the guard continues for England head coach Stuart Lancaster as
he makes seven changes to his 32-man Elite Player Squad

Lancaster hands recognition for players such as London Irish centre Jonathan Joseph, Exeter Chiefs flanker Tom Johnson and Saracens full-back Alex Goode, all of whom made their debuts on the recent tour to South Africa. He has capped 12 players in his eight games in charge. Leicester trio, centre Anthony Allen, lock Geoff Parling and No 8 Thomas Waldrom win call-ups, but there is no place in the EPS for back-row forward James Haskell or wing David Strettle.

The prodigal son, Harlequins scrum-half Danny Care, returns after being kicked out of the squad in January for his well-publicised drink-related incidents. The rehabilitation process was spiritual as well as sporting, Care coming to appreciate just how much he missed international rugby and realising, too, that Lancaster would not tolerate idiotic antics. Care has just departed to Las Vegas for a summer break with some rugby pals. You can only trust that best behaviour will be the order of the day in America.

Care proved his value out on the field in the third Test against the Springboks in Port Elizabeth, his first outing in an England shirt in 10 months. He scored a trademark opportunist tap-and-go try and was instrumental in helping England to a 14-14 draw, salvaging a modicum of respect after defeat in the first two Tests.

Only two players who started a Test in South Africa, Haskell and Strettle, failed to make the cut for the EPS and have to kick their heels in the Saxons squad. Their prospects are different, though: Haskell is still on Super 15 duty for the Highlanders in New Zealand and will make a strong case for promotion once he returns to Wasps in August. Strettle, 29 next month, looks to be on the wane now that the likes of Gloucester duo Charlie Sharples and Jonny May as well as Wasps flier Christian Wade are making a mark.

Six players – Sharples, Tom Croft, Courtney Lawes, Tom Wood, Matt Stevens and Rob Webber – are included in the EPS despite not touring because of injury.

“The great thing is that we have competition across the board developing in many positions,” said Lancaster, who will oversee a three-day training camp in Loughborough from August 6-8 ahead of England’s QBE Test series against Fiji, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand in November.

The Saxons squad sees a new raft of talent gathering at the gates, with the likes of Leicester fly-half George Ford, Worcester flanker Matt Kvesic, Sale full-back Rob Miller and prop Henry Thomas all looking to press claims in the opening months of the season. There is no place for Sale team-mate, fly-half Danny Cipriani, who starts training with his new club on his return from the Melbourne Rebels next week.

In other rugby news, Cipriani’s former Wasps colleague, centre Dom Waldouck, signed for Northampton on Thursday while Neil Back has been appointed forwards coach at Edinburgh.